Italics = Thought / The Past

I do not own Fire Emblem.

Cross published on

Gunter had to admit. Out of everything Corrin could have told him, this was the last on the list.

"Your son?"

"Yes. Our Siggy." Corrin confirmed lovingly, he walked over to Azura, and gently took his son into his arms. Azura addressed the knights from her chair.

"It has been our biggest secret. Bigger even than our dark plan." She explained. "He's our treasure…"

"How do you have a son?" Silas blurted out.

"I assume you know the procedure, Silas. When mummy and daddy love each other very much…" Corrin said with a smirk, gently rocking his son in his arms.

"That isn't what I meant!" The younger knight protested as Gunter bit back a laugh. "I'm asking how the hell you have a child when you're not meant to be able to leave the North Fortress….and aren't courting anyone!"

"Well…one, you're right. I'm not meant to be able to leave. Two, I am courting someone, mainly Azura. Have been for two years now."

"How old?" Gunter asked. "..How old is Shigure?"

"Five months…since we are barely three months away from kicking things off, we need him safe, with people we trust. Which is you two, if you wish to."

"It would be my honour, my Prince." Gunter confirmed. "He will be the fourth Prince I have guarded."

"…Corrin." Silas started, hesitation lacing his voice. "I must ask…why do all of this? Nohr, Hoshido…the deeprealms…why do everything you're planning?"

"Do you believe in destiny, Silas?" Corrin asked in a quiet tone.

"Yes.."

Corrin let out a soft laugh. "I'm glad someone does…sadly for me, m y destiny is a lie, as is Azura's. I will not save Nohr, neither will Azura fly the Hoshidian banner from Anya's tallest spire. There is no light at the end of my tunnel, nor a happy ending to our tale. Because, for what we shall do to them all, they will call me traitor, and turncoat...as that is exactly what I shall have become. Mikoto, Garon, Iago Ryoma, the Annas, Nohr and Hoshido…one by one they will fall at my feet. We will drag their kingdoms kicking and screaming into a new era of peace, whether they like it or not."

"The Annas?" Gunter raised a curious brow. "The family of identical traders?"

"The same."

"Why?" Silas asked. The Annas were well known across the world, and beyond, if the rumour were to be believed.

"For the simple fact that they profit from war. If an army needs weapons, tomes or armour? The Annas happily provide. Rations, field tents, medical supplies? Not a problem…"

"It's just a shame our allied Anna isn't sane." Azura piped up, humour in her voice.

"She prefers 'differently rational', Azura."

"Doesn't change the fact she's insane."

"You're cute when you're jealous…"

"Shush you."

"Make me, sweetie."

"Maybe I will." Azura's eyes glinted slyly.

There was a cough, and the pair snapped their attention to the Elderly Knight.

"Even so" Gunter interrupted the couple before the blue haired girl could jump Corrin "They are rich and, by extension powerful."

"I know. But they are a threat. Plus we promised Anna we would. A Prince must keep his word, after all."

"So, in essence, you're going to war with everyone." Gunter concluded.

"Yep! That's it." Corrin confirmed cheerfully.

"….You're utterly mad." Gunter sighed.

"He is. But can you really blame him after all the shit he's put up with?" Azura queried. "Kidnapped, and don't try to deny it…" She shot an accusatory glare at Gunter. "Imprisoned, pretty much tortured and denied a childhood. Trained as a weapon, trained to have loyalty to the man who stole him away. Yes, he's mad. Yes, he's damaged. Yes, he's serious about this plan. And yes, he is mine."

Corrin smiled softly at Azura, and walked back over to her, and gently handed Shigure back to her.

"Stay for tonight…we'll introduce you in the morning." Corrin said to the knights. "Guest rooms are upstairs on the right."

Silas inclined his head, and bade the occupants of the room goodnight, and headed upstairs. Gunter took one last look at the small family in the corner of the room, before he too headed upstairs. He was close to seventy years old now, and all his life, all he had was duty. Corrin was the closest thing to a son he ever had, and now, at not even twenty, he held his son in his arms. Despite the fact his plan was a mad, futile one, there was genuine love in the boys' eye as he held the blue haired babe.

Gunter decided then.

He would serve Corrin, Prince, King, or whatever title he wore.

He would protect Shigure as he had his father.

And he would crush any that were fool enough to stand in his Prince's way.

The small group checked over their weapons and armour.

They were currently hidden behind a hill that ran down the side of the road, wearing light leather and cloth armour, and nondescript blades and bows.

Leading them was a woman with white hair, hailing from the Flame Tribe. She wore an ogre mask, so appeared to have a mane of red hair.

"You are certain it is this group of carriages?" She asked the lead scout.

"Yes, Lady Azura was quite certain." The green haired man confirmed. He was Suzukaze, or, as he insisted on being called, Kaze. He hailed from the powerful Saizo family, and was in fact the younger twin to the current Saizo. "Our Queen believes that rescuing our lost Prince is worth looking into any rumour."

The woman sighed.

"Lady Rinkah?"

"Give the order Kaze." She said wearily.

"At once."

Xander insisted on leading the group on his beloved Steadfast, at least until they reached the evening stop over.

He was growing bored, so was almost relieved when soldiers that were clearly Hoshidian stepped into the road.

"Halt, filth!" The Woman leading them said. "In the name of Queen Mikoto, I, Rinkah, daughter of Chieftain Teine of the Flame Tribe, demand you release our Prince Corrin from your captivity, and into our custody!...Please comply, or there will be violence.."